Tashilhunpo Monastery, Shigatse, Tibet

The Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama, is a historic and culturally important monastery next to Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet. This monastery is the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas, the second highest ranking lama lineage in the Gelukpa (Yellow Hat Sect) tradition.

Located on a hill in the center of the city, the full name in Tibetan of the monastery means: “all fortune and happiness gathered here” or “heap of glory”.

Because they have a big neighbour, China, who decided Tibet is part of its territory. Tibet has suffered untold suffering, especially during the cultural revolution. Today, Tibet is already a kind of human zoo, open to tourists who most of the time cannot have direct contact with Tibetans.